TENDON TISSUE ENGINEERING: DEVELOPMENT OF COAXIAL NANOFIBER SCAFFOLDS AND EXAMINATION OF THE EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL AND SOLUBLE CUES ON TENDON PROGENITOR CELLS IN VITRO.

Abstract: Tendon injury occurs frequently, and is characterized by limited healing and scar tissue formation, leading to increased interest in tendon tissue engineering. This work focuses on two different needs within that field. First, there is a need for the development of an effective system for even cell delivery to nanofiber scaffolds. Coaxial electrospinning has shown promise as a delivery m... read moreethod for both cells and drugs, and the first project outlined here describes the development and characterization of a coaxial electrospinning system, with the goal of using it for these applications. Second, there is a need for characterization of the effects of mechanical and biochemical cues known to be tenogenic in vivo, on tendon progenitor cells in vitro. This project explores the individual and combined effects that these cues have on tenogenic gene expression, with the ultimate goal of understanding and furthering the ability to direct tenogenesis in vitro. read less